News-Press Editorial:

Summer got over with in a big hurry this week. Labor Day, summer's unofficial end, was chock full of activity in Northern Virginia for Democrats. It's a holiday celebrated especially by the party of the laboring man, and outdoor events in Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax kept the Democratic politicians on the move. The first slight harbinger of the heavy rains Frances promises to bring here this week seemed to deter no one. As busy as it was for some, the day was supposed to be the last day to catch one's breath before the sudden overload of activities that routinely commences on the first day of school, especially during presidential election years.

Sure enough, on Tuesday night, just after classes began at most schools in the area, there were no less than five public meetings of import to residents of Falls Church and environs. The Falls Church School Board held a work session on its Mt. Daniel Elementary School renovation plans attended by more than two dozen still frustrated residential neighbors to the site. The Falls Church City Council held a work session on a range of new ordinances, and concerns for added local costs to subsidize Metro. The Falls Church Planning Commission held a public meeting to weigh in on a restrictive new proposed tree ordinance the City is moving to make law. The Friends of the W&OD Trail met at the Falls Church Community Center to mull consequences of Dominion Power's decision to their abandon efforts to extend power lines along the trail, and of the financial burden that and other legal battles have placed on the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Finally, there was the first major debate of the 8th District congressional campaign pitting incumbent Rep. Jim Moran against two challengers at the Northern Virginia Hospital Center community room. All in one night, and all covered by the News-Press.

Yesterday, Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards' spouse passed through the region, and this morning, Gov. Mark Warner unveils a major education initiative at George Marshall High School. "Outfoxed" will be shown at Stacy's Coffee House tonight, and Mason District Democrats and Leslie Byrne fundraisers are set for the weekend. Indeed, summer is over with a vengeance and it won't let up until Thanksgiving (assuming the presidential election will be settled on Nov. 2). The Sept. 17 dedication of the new lights at the George Mason High football field is a highlight among countless sporting events, stage plays and band concerts on all levels K through 12. There will be the Fall Festival, endless political fundraisers and debates, and feuds over development and land use. We'll do our best to chronicle it all in the, News-Press, where we do our best to keep having fun with it all.

But then, there is the unexpected. The biggest event of last fall was Hurricane Isabel. Let's keep our good humor with the routine stuff as we keep our fingers crossed that the routine is all we need worry about.